Cleaning device for intaglio plates.



H. A. W. WOOD.

CLEANING DEVICE FOR lNTAGLIO PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1912.

1,138,342. Patented May 4, 1915.

V I Maia/w flz mzml UNITED STA'IE IZiTENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WOOD & NATHAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLEANING DEVICE FOR INTAGLIO PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Original application filed February 25, 1907, Serial No. 359,116. Renewed March 7,1912, Serial No. 632,085.

Divided and this application filed May 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. Wrsn WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Cleaning Device for Intaglio Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This is a division of my patent having the same title No. 1,042,517 granted October 29, 191%, on an application filed February 25, 190

In an application for patent filed February 8, 1907, Serial No. 356,317, I have set forth a method of preparing intaglio printing cylinders and other plates for making successive imprints without permitting the outside circumferences thereof to be reduced. One form in which said invention is illustrated comprises the employment of a cylindrical shell which is longitudinally slit. \Vhen the slit in this shell is made parallel with the aXis thereof and with the edge of the cleaning blade, it is obvious that the latter will snap into the slit or gap in the shell once during each revolution.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide positively operating means, independent of the cylinder and shell, for preventing the cleaning blade from snapping into the channel when a divided shell is used such as that above mentioned. This object is accomplished with all types of plates and shells by the use of means preferably located beyond the end of the cylinder, for keeping the blade substantially at a position corresponding to the outer circumference or plane of the plate while it passes over the slit or gap. By having this means located as stated it cannot interfere with the ink distribution and can be adjusted to take up wear, etc. Several ways of accomplishing this result can be adopted within my invention.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a cylindrical shell slit longitudinally, showing one form of the invention. and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another form showing the cleaning blade in position.

In the forms of the invention shown, a cleaning device for the intaglio printing surfaces is provided with means for keeping it from snapping off the edge of the in- Serial No. 694.844.

taglio plate so as to be suddenly struck by the edge of the approaching plate. The stop for accomplishing this purpose is located in such position as to engage some part of the cleaning device, as for instance, the blade holder.

Referring first to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the intaglio printing shell a is provided with a longitudinal slit or gap 5 which in this case is parallel with the axis of the shell and with the edge of the cleaning blade 0. The gap in the shell eXtends throughout the length thereof.

For the purpose of holding the blade in such position that it will not snap into the slit or gap and so that it will engage the oncoming surface of the plate in a proper mannor, the blade 0 is not directly operated upon to hold it in proper position but it is mounted in a holder 9 which is movably supported, in the present instance being pivoted on a shaft It. Means of any desired character is provided for yieldingly forcing the blade against the shell, this being represented in the present instance by a spring 2' mounted on the sliding rod j. The stop in this case consists of an adjustable screw (l which may be turned to adjust the holder micrometrally so as to bring the blade in proper position to engage the intaglio surfaces. In Fig. 2 this principle is carried out by providing the shaft h with an arm is having a cam roller Z thereon, the shaft of the printing cylinder f having cams for operating the roller. In this arrangement, the cleaning blade is yieldingly held in engagement with the plates by the weight of the roller, or in any other desired way, except when passing the gap, at which time it is held in proper position by the operation of one of the cams. It will be noticed that in the form shown in Fig. 2 the means for holding the cleaning device in proper position consists of an element which is fixed with respect to the printing surface so that when the invention is applied to a rotary press, it rotates with the shell or plate cylinder and when applied to a fiat bed press, it moves with the printing surface.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which my invention can be embodied, I am aware that modifications can be made therein and that the several forms shown can be applied to other types of presses than those upon which they are indicated, without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, but

\Vhat I do claim is 1. The combination with an intaglio printing member having a slit or gap, of a cleaning device, and adjustable means located near the member but independent thereof in position to engage the cleaning device while passing the gap for holding the same substantially at the height of the printing surface.

2. The combination with a printing member having intaglio printing surfaces thereon separated by a slit or gap, of a movable cleaning device, means for yieldingly holding the cleaning device in contact with said surfaces, and means located near the intaglio surfaces but independent thereof and of said holding means in position to hold the cleaning device while passing the gap at substantially the height of said printing surfaces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD. Witnesses:

MIRIAM MORRIS, HENRY R. GOULD. 

